CNA is a cutter

hypnotic_nurse · Oct 15, 2004

Well, she won't cut THEM, only herself -- but I am concerned that if she is not getting professional help, that her cutting will escalate (I've had patients who cut through their own tendons, resulting in permanent damage).

lovingtheunloved, ASN, RN · Oct 15, 2004

She said she isn't getting help because

a) she can't afford it

b) she's "been through the whole therapy and meds thing for years" and it's something she has "learned to live with"

I know her wounds are serious quite often. I found out about her problem when I was in the ER with a friend, and she was in the ER getting 23 stitches. The poor thing looked humiliated.

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Oct 17, 2004

Borderline personality disorder, like all illness, comes in different degrees of severity...mild, moderate, severe. Cutters cut for different reasons. However, one thing seems constant...cutting frequency, severity, and body location are often indicative of how that person is dealing with current and/or past stress. Humiliation or embarrassment can be present. If the cutting escalates, the person needs help. Some people chain smoke, some people drink, cutters cut.

lovingtheunloved, ASN, RN · Oct 18, 2004

Does every cutter have BPD? Can a person hurt themselves and not be Borderline?

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Oct 18, 2004

Lovingtheunloved, I think you know my position. But, I also would like to hear others input.

lovingtheunloved, ASN, RN · Oct 18, 2004

Yes, I realize what your opinion is. I don't disagree necessarily. I'm very ignorant about cutting and BPD and psychological things in general, so I'm asking. My coworker doesn't seem like an unstable person. But then again I only know her on the professional level.

catz · Oct 23, 2004

NO not all self injurers have bpd!!!!!!!!!!!!

bpd is often dxed because self injury is one of the symptons but also often it is misdxed just because a person cuts. yes a person can hurt themselves without being borderline.

does she see things in black n white? is she always right or worng? can she see the inbetween? does she either like someone or hate them? do her moods swing frequently? if not dont assume she is bpd just because she cuts.

u are priviledged that she let u kow about this, she must trust u, dont hassle her about it, when she is ready she will get treatment, if her cutting seems to be escalating and causing more problems/interfering with her work then sugest that she gets treatment again, but dont pressure her into it. some people can and do function very effectively in the world while still cutting. it is a coping mechanism, alleit an unhealthy one. like thunderhead said, some people drink, some people cut.

lovingtheunloved, ASN, RN · Oct 25, 2004

NO not all self injurers have bpd!!!!!!!!!!!!
bpd is often dxed because self injury is one of the symptons but also often it is misdxed just because a person cuts. yes a person can hurt themselves without being borderline.
does she see things in black n white? is she always right or worng? can she see the inbetween? does she either like someone or hate them? do her moods swing frequently? if not dont assume she is bpd just because she cuts.
u are priviledged that she let u kow about this, she must trust u, dont hassle her about it, when she is ready she will get treatment, if her cutting seems to be escalating and causing more problems/interfering with her work then sugest that she gets treatment again, but dont pressure her into it. some people can and do function very effectively in the world while still cutting. it is a coping mechanism, alleit an unhealthy one. like thunderhead said, some people drink, some people cut.

She's actually a very flexible person. She sticks up for people she doesn't necessarily like. If she does something wrong and you bring it to her attention, she fixes the problem. She IS very opinionated, but not to a fault. She gets along with just about everybody, even the people no one else gets along with. I don't know if that has anything to do with BPD or not. She just seems so "normal"

catz · Oct 25, 2004

my guess then would be that she is not borderline.....but i dont know her soo. i have got friends who are borderline, one whom i posted about here last year lol. she is so imo very typically borerline and i have ad to mostly cut contact wiht her to mantain my own mental health.

does ur colleague know that u know she cuts? if she does maybe u could manage to let her know that if she wants to talk or nything she is welcome to come to u, she mite well tell u wat if ny dxes she has been given.

most borderline pts (imo) are pretty much unabe to function well, cant hold down jobs, cant deal with people without having arguments and hating them etc etc.

it is highly possible she suffers from plain old depression, or has in the past, and discovered si as a coping mechanism. it can be very hard to let go of a coping mechanism that works when all else seems to fail.

i would say if her supervisor is aware of her cutting he is keeping an eye on her and if she was to start being not "normal" would soon suggest she had time of.got treatment again etc.

let us know how things go:) its nce to hear about someone who has difficulties and is functioning in a stressful job

im not getting across wat i want to well sorry.

there are a few good threads in this forum with a wealth f info about bpd.

CliveUK · Oct 25, 2004

I work in LTC, and recently discovered that one of the CNAs is a self injurer. I'm very concerned about her and spoke to the DON about it. He is already aware of it, and told me that her wounds are always properly dressed before she starts her shift. She does excellent work, and is wonderful with the residents, and the other CNAs see her as a leader. Is she safe to work with the residents? I don't know what to think.

Self-injury is just another form of coping mechanism for some people. You say later on in this thread that she says she has gone down the therapy route and found it useless. Seems to me like she has found a space in her life for her cutting, a way of dealing with it and a way of functioning in her everyday existence. I'd say she is perfectly safe to work with residents.

lovingtheunloved, ASN, RN · Oct 26, 2004

my guess then would be that she is not borderline.....but i dont know her soo. i have got friends who are borderline, one whom i posted about here last year lol. she is so imo very typically borerline and i have ad to mostly cut contact wiht her to mantain my own mental health.
does ur colleague know that u know she cuts? if she does maybe u could manage to let her know that if she wants to talk or nything she is welcome to come to u, she mite well tell u wat if ny dxes she has been given.
most borderline pts (imo) are pretty much unabe to function well, cant hold down jobs, cant deal with people without having arguments and hating them etc etc.
it is highly possible she suffers from plain old depression, or has in the past, and discovered si as a coping mechanism. it can be very hard to let go of a coping mechanism that works when all else seems to fail.
i would say if her supervisor is aware of her cutting he is keeping an eye on her and if she was to start being not "normal" would soon suggest she had time of.got treatment again etc.
let us know how things go:) its nce to hear about someone who has difficulties and is functioning in a stressful job
im not getting across wat i want to well sorry.
there are a few good threads in this forum with a wealth f info about bpd.

She knows that I know. I just feel so helpless. She also wants to be a nurse, and I'm concerned that her problems will get in the way of that. I guess all I can do is pray for her and be there for her.